Letters of Thought: July 2009

Friday, July 31, 2009

Picture of the Week 83

A View from Covent Gardens in London.

Wishing everyone a Good Shabbos!

Technorati Tags: London, England, Picture of the Week, Photography, Clouds

Thursday, July 30, 2009

This weeks riddle is an easier one - so it's worth only 8 points:

One black, one white
One for him, one for her
One when hot, one when cold
Six are we - all but one, not to be.

What are they?

2 bonus points if anyone can tell me the name of the street I just moved to.

Wishing everyone a good fast . . .

Detail from the Arch of Titus depicting the looting of Jerusalem. Taken during my Lithuanian Summer in Italy - Summer 5767

Technorati Tags: Riddles, 9 Av, Judaism

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

A British Bar - Bar Mitzvah

Or part IV of the Legendary London Trip

(A look at the 'new' face of London - massive protests over American presence in Pakistan and Afghanistan)

This post has been lingering around for far to long. I've rushed through it a bit, so while there are several interesting stories written here . . . they're unedited. Please forgive the quality.
I hope you enjoy (and if anyone can point out errors, I'll be very thankful in the help fixing them!)
Click on the link to see the last leg of my trip to London - rife with Arabs, Tefillin, French Love and plenty of Beer!

After returning to London from Manchester, Dear Dan and I decided to spend our last day in London going around to the remaining sites we'd missed in the city, and more importantly, visit the Jews we'd met before in various places and put tefillin on with them.

Shachar, our friend from the first day touring got a mezuzah!

Putting on Tefillin between the chachkas.

Shachar called over his friends and we got them all in on game!

The chevra . . . as taken by a Polish goy'ka working over at the nearby booth.

Over the river . . .

Next we went to the famed speakers corner . . . Once a place of free speech and a platform for the people to voice themselves openly (or at least make total fools of themselves) today it seems to be rampant with Arabs voicing their hate for the Jewish people and Judaism - the rest of the crowd being a few xtian loonies and a handful of communists.

Don't ask, as I also have no clue . . . but I've been told he's a regular.

Socialism . . . Right.

A European accented, and I believe Jewish, man speaking about Evolution

. . . and arguing with an Israeli Lady about it (I love this pic!)

Got Islam? England sure does . . .

Getting a tan, sharia style

Notice (behind the sunbathing Brits) the crowd of people debating in the corner

After walking around, the Muslim guy in the t-shirt pulled me over . . .
"Do you speak Hebrew?" he asked me.
I stopped in my tracks suddenly. After seeing crowds roaring for the destruction of Israel, I was unsure on how to properly respond to the questions - and what exactly I would be getting into.
"Yes."
"Good. Come here! Come here." He said, beckoning me towards the sizable group gathered around him.
"How do you say G-d's name 'I am what I am' in Hebrew?"
Seeing no harm in his question, I told him as much.
"You see! I'm right" He said, pointing to the lady missionary, erstwhile clutching an orange a bible in her hand, standing next him.
"I believe him - even that's a lot coming from a Muslim!."

Giving me a look of betrayal, the missionary tried to coax some argument from me to her cause - but still unable to figure out what exactly the information I was supplying was being used for, I could add no more.
A few yards away from the debate, we came to a group of Frenchies prancing around with big signs that boldly read: "Free Hug"
I tried to explain to the you lady who approached me with open arms that as a Rabbi (and an engaged one at that) I didn't hug women . . . but to no avail. I ended up settling the mater by hugging a man holding a similar sign.

Note: The lady in purple moved her position to be closer to Dear D. at the last moment.

A Free Hug

I couldn't figure out what these guys were speaking about.

As we made our way out of the park, we were approached by a group of three Islamic youths with T-shirts that read "Got
Islam?"
Producing a small booklet, they began to ask us various odd questions - such as
'If we believed in one G-d.' (Answer: I think we created monotheism), and 'if we knew the verse that read Hear O Israel, the Lord our G-d, the Lord is one.' (Answer: uh . . . It's called the Shema in Hebrew and we say it several times through out the day).
While they tried to look up a verse about Jacob in their small pocket Bible, Dear Dan looked at the booklet they were reading their questions from. It read: "How to convince others the truth of Islam. If x-tian ask questions on page 3, Jewish ask those on page 5 . . . "

We thanked them and wished them a nice day.

As we left, we ran into a young Jew from the States and spent a few moments in prayer - and a half hour or so in conversation . . .

We then went to Covent Gardens . . .

Magic tricks

and juggling chainsaws

Before we left, Dear Dan and I decided to grab a final "Goodbye" drink in London.

Turning into a Pub named The Nags Head we ordered took a seat and order our drinks.
Dan had a Strongbow Cider, I got a Springzinger Cask conditioned IPA from McCullen.

Our photo

That evening I had arranged a meet up with fellow blogger Joshua Oxenhendler. For whatever reason, we were unable to get through to each other - and so with out a rendezvous point, Dear Dan and I went for a second drink across the street at the White Lion (I love British pub names).

We ordered our drinks - this time I got another cask conditioned ale - a Doom Bar Bitter.

Turning to a gentleman from Tennessee speaking to his friend, we asked him to take a pic.
Demurring at first as a "poor photographer", he took the photo below.

L'Chaim

As fate would have it, Jeff was Jewish.
We sat down to speak . . . and soon had a full on Farbrengen.
As sunset approached, I broached the subject of putting on tefillin with him - a mitzvah he had never before done.
Jeff agreed . . . and had a "Bar" Mitzvah right there in the Pub.
In celebration of the momentous event, another round of drinks was ordered, and the farbrengen continued!

Mottel, Jeff, Tim and Dear Dan.

At last, all good things must come to an end, and for one needed to move on in life.
After all . . . my wedding in New York was less, at that time, a week away!

Thus ended my London trip to Chief's wedding . . . and my last trip as a bochur.

Manhattan and Brooklyn as seen from the bridge. Note the Willamsburg, Manhattan and - my favorite - Brooklyn bridges.

Technorati Tags: Travel, London, England, Mivtzoyim, Tefillin, Israelis, Arabs, Anti-Semitism, Beer, Photography, New York, Brooklyn, Airplanes, Marriage

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Picture of the Week: 82

Taken in Camden Town, London

Wishing everyone a good ShabbosTechnorati Tags: London, England, Photography, Picture of the Week

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Weekly Riddle 6 - The Good Morning Edition

Born red, inside a green treasure is found.
Heat and time, black I become - then unbound.
Water with fire, go through me - to make a perfect treat for thee!

Good Morning all!
This riddle is worth 15 points.

There's a 7 point bonus for anyone who can tell me the names of all the instruments I've taken lessons for and played - hint there are four!

Last but not least, all first time commenters will get 2 points each, and all those who ReTweet this riddle get 1!

Good luck!

Technorati Tags: Riddles, Points

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Picture of the Week: 81

London

Wishing everyone a good Shabbos!

CNN and Palestinian Puff Psychology

Just a quick rant before chassidus:

CNN ran a puff peace about Al-Aqsa's infamous 'Young Pioneer's' show . . .the one that gave us Mujaheed Micky Mouse (farfour) and other such lovely gifts of human life.

The entire article reeks.
From speaking about a young girl 'defiantly' spouting propaganda,

"The young anchor sounds a defiant note: "And here we say to the occupier that we will follow her doctrine, the doctrine of the martyr mujahida Reem Riyashi, until we liberate our homeland from your illegitimate hands." "

To quoting bunk Palestinian pop-psychiatrists that blame the shocking rise in desire for 'martyrdom' amongst children, as a result of

". . .children in Gaza [being] so traumatized by Israeli-Palestinian violence over the years that their perceptions of life and death were damaged." and not the propaganda and failure of the Palestinian educational system.

If such bunk is to be believed, then why isn't it extended to the other side? Why not say so called [and patently false] ware crimes of the Israeli army on trauma from the violence over the years? No, that? Never . . .

Meh.

Time to learn torah

(image source)

Technorati Tags: News, Opinion, Rants, CNN, Israel, Terrorism

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Weekly Riddle 5

Three for the fathers, four for the mothers.
In me, I deny all others.
Exact I am, to the string.
Split in parts, unity I bring.

What am I?

10 ponts.
5 points if anyone besides E can tell me E's middle name.
3 points if someone can think of a good Goyishe name for TRS.

(Image Source) - no connection between the image and riddle.

Technorati Tags: Riddles, Blogging

Monday, July 13, 2009

Letters of Thought and Western Wall Prayers

First: A Question . . .

Someone mentioned that photos from my wedding ended up on one of the Chabad News sites - under Wedding in Ithaca or the like. Anyone know where?

------------

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Sunday, July 12, 2009

My First Day in Kollel

First a link to this week's Haviel Havalim
----
7:30 my first morning in Crown Heights after the wedding, my alarm clock came to life. Having gone to bed a paltry three hours before - after finally catching up on the back log of Rambam that had been growing increasingly longer since my wedding day - I did not come as quickly to life.
With no coffee in our place (the trusty old mud machine in 712 still stands as stalwart sentential guarding the Milchige kitchen . . . ) I slowly rolled out of bed and began to assemble my clothes for the coming day.
Pants: check (still on from the night before), Shirt: check (one clean shirt left from the trip to the cleaners before the wedding), Glasses . . . Glasses? No where to be found.
Look as I may, in the clutter of a newly settled and unfamiliar home, I could not find my specs. At last, ceding defeat in the face of my ever growing tardiness, I grabbed my mikvah bag and emerged into the world, sans glasses, blinking like a mole.
Rushing to the mikvah, I opened my bag . . . only to see that I hadn't brought my shampoo, soap, sandals et al - but instead my wife's makeup bag.
After running home, finding the correct bag, and dashing back to the mikvah, I was finally able to head off to chassidus in the Kollel.
My first day learning as a married man.
Wow.
And with my dear friend the Amazing Yankel to boot!
Arriving at the Kollel half past eight, I entered the large room - packed full yungeliet learning chassidus.
I realized, much to my horror, that with out my glasses I would never be able to discern the Amazing Yankel among the white-shirted, bearded masses with out walking up to each table to get a better look at the guys sitting there.
After a few minutes I gave up the wandering and sat down . . . only to be tapped on the shoulder by someone a year or so older then me,
"This is my place," he said. "I've been learning here for two years already!"
He then proceeded to produce a brown lunch bag with a smiley face and a little message written on it.
Producing a handful of cookies and an apple, he began to happily munch on his breakfast.
I was overwhelmed suddenly with flashbacks from kindergarten.

And so things go . . . what ends, only cycles back to the beginning again.

(Image Source)

Technorati Tags: Kollel, yeshivah, Chabad, New York, Life, Married Life, Thoughts, Humor

Friday, July 10, 2009

Picture of the Week 80: New York, New York

New York City as seen coming from Washington DC on my return flight from London

Wishing everyone (even the farbissine misnagdim out there) a good Shabbos.
As a side note - this post is post 900!

Technorati Tags: New York City, Airplanes, Photography, Travel, Picture of the Week

Thursday, July 09, 2009

The Grand Wedding of the Chief - The Legendary London Trip III

Click on the link for photos from Chief P's wonderful wedding, and more!

Though seeing London was a joy, and worth a trip in and unto itself, the main purpose for the trip was to rejoice at the marriage of my dear friend, The Chief.
The wedding, way out in Watford, was truly a blast!

Various members of the London Lubavitcher community

Though I came as a surprise guest, I was surprised with a brocha under the Chupa

Following the chupa there was a very British style buffet reception of various smelly fishes and fruit . . .
Followed by the dancing!

\

The Cehvra: Chatzkel, Yossi, Chief, Dear Dan and one Mottel

Yossi sings!

The breaking of the fellowship

After the wedding we spent some time going to Dear Dan's old mivtzoyim route from his days in London, visiting various people to put tefillin on with them.

While neading back to North London, we made a stop at Abbey Road . . .

V'dal

For Shevuos we went to Manchester.
To my surprise and pleasure, I would find out that our host H. (who along with his wife is a most amazing machnis orchim!) had been following my blog since the early days in Poland!

In the bus station

Stay tuned for the fourth and final installment of the Legendary London Trip!

Technorati Tags: London, England, Weddings, Manchester, Blogging, Abbey Road, Mivtzoyim, Photogrraphy, Travel